A Brownlow medallist and a Hall of Fame legend have joined a push for a pre-grand final bye following a devastating concussion that has ruled Geelong defender Tom Stewart out of next week’s end-of-season decider.

Stewart was taken from the ground in the first quarter of the Cats’ preliminary final win at the MCG on Friday night after being driven head first into the turf in a tackle by Hawthorn’s Mabior Chol.

Tom Stewart is attended to by Geelong medical staff on Friday night. Credit: AFL Photos

Stewart will not emerge from concussion protocols until the Wednesday after the grand final.

The fear of a star player missing the biggest day of the year had already been forecast last week by new AFL footy boss Greg Swann.

Swann raised the prospect of shifting the bye to the back end of

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